GOAT Rank · 1370

Greatest Athletes from United States

This ranking is led by Michael Phelps, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Carl Lewis. GOAT Rank currently ranks 1370 eligible athletes from United States using verified career records across dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Quick answer

According to GOAT Rank's current model, Michael Phelps ranks #1 on this list with a GOAT Score of 95.2.

How the GOAT Score is calculated →

#AthleteGOAT Score

2087

Jenny Potter

76.8

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1997–2011
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Jenny Potter

2089

Jim Taylor

76.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1958–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Jim Taylor

2094

Bill Dudley

76.8

Sport: American Football
Career: 1942–1953
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Bill Dudley

2096

Deborah Babashoff

76.8

Sport: Swimming
Career: 1974–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Deborah Babashoff

2100

Frank Brimsek

76.8

Sport: Ice Hockey
Career: 1938–1950
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 93.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Frank Brimsek

2101

Johnny Unitas

76.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1956–1973
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 87.0
Honours: 87.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Johnny Unitas

2107

Katharine Berkoff

76.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 66.0

Athlete: Katharine Berkoff

2111

Raymond Berry

76.7

Sport: American Football
Career: 1955–1967
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Raymond Berry

2113

William Clothier

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1900–1914
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: William Clothier

2114

John Doeg

76.7

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1926–1935
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: John Doeg

2117

Jack Aikins

76.7

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2019–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Jack Aikins

2118

Rickey Henderson

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1979–2003
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 93.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Rickey Henderson

2121

Maureen Connolly

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1949–1954
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 60.0

Athlete: Maureen Connolly

2122

Christy Mathewson

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1900–1916
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 90.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Christy Mathewson

2125

Warren Spahn

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1942–1965
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Warren Spahn

2126

Amar'e Stoudemire

76.6

Sport: Basketball
Career: 2002–2016
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 74.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 74.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Amar'e Stoudemire

2128

Budge Patty

76.6

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1946–1961
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Budge Patty

2129

Pud Galvin

76.6

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1875–1892
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 96.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Pud Galvin

2130

John Stallworth

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1974–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: John Stallworth

2131

Patrick Peterson

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 2011–2023
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Patrick Peterson

2136

Marion Motley

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 88.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 90.0
Longevity: 74.0

Athlete: Marion Motley

2137

Jerome Bettis

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1993–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Jerome Bettis

2141

John Riggins

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1971–1985
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: John Riggins

2142

Bob Hayes

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1975
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 96.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Hayes

2143

Dante Lavelli

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1956
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Dante Lavelli

2144

Clarke Hinkle

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1932–1941
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Clarke Hinkle

2145

Henry Jordan

76.6

Sport: American Football
Career: 1957–1969
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 86.0
Honours: 94.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Henry Jordan

2154

Emmitt Smith

76.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1990–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Emmitt Smith

2155

Frank Robinson

76.5

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1956–1976
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Frank Robinson

2159

Bill Dickey

76.5

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1928–1946
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 92.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Bill Dickey

2162

Frank Gore

76.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 2005–2020
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 80.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 96.0

Athlete: Frank Gore

2164

Marques Johnson

76.5

Sport: Basketball
Career: 1977–1989
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 86.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 76.0
Longevity: 72.0

Athlete: Marques Johnson

2166

Alyssa Anderson

76.5

Sport: Swimming
Career: 2009–2014
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 88.0
Dominance: 76.0
Statistics: 82.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 68.0

Athlete: Alyssa Anderson

2167

Elroy Hirsch

76.5

Sport: American Football
Career: 1946–1957
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Elroy Hirsch

2175

Justin Verlander

76.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 2005–active
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Justin Verlander

2177

Charlie Gehringer

76.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1924–1942
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Charlie Gehringer

2178

Ken Houston

76.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1967–1980
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 88.0

Athlete: Ken Houston

2179

Ty Law

76.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1995–2009
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Ty Law

2180

Antonio Brown

76.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 2010–2021
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 78.0

Athlete: Antonio Brown

2183

Barry Larkin

76.4

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1986–2004
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 90.0

Athlete: Barry Larkin

2189

Tony Trabert

76.4

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1950–1963
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 94.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 80.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 70.0

Athlete: Tony Trabert

2191

Dan Fouts

76.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1973–1987
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 86.0

Athlete: Dan Fouts

2194

Fred Biletnikoff

76.4

Sport: American Football
Career: 1965–1978
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 90.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 84.0

Athlete: Fred Biletnikoff

2198

Bob Falkenburg

76.4

Sport: Tennis
Career: 1944–1955
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 78.0
Statistics: 84.0
Honours: 82.0
Longevity: 76.0

Athlete: Bob Falkenburg

2199

Deion Sanders

76.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1989–2005
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 86.0
Longevity: 82.0

Athlete: Deion Sanders

2201

Craig Biggio

76.3

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1988–2007
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 94.0

Athlete: Craig Biggio

2202

Troy Polamalu

76.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 2003–2014
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 86.0
Statistics: 88.0
Honours: 88.0
Longevity: 80.0

Athlete: Troy Polamalu

2205

Ken Riley

76.3

Sport: American Football
Career: 1969–1983
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 90.0
Dominance: 82.0
Statistics: 92.0
Honours: 80.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Ken Riley

2206

Paul Molitor

76.3

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1978–1998
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Paul Molitor

2207

Lee Smith

76.3

Sport: Baseball
Career: 1980–1997
Country: 🇺🇸 United States

Peak: 92.0
Dominance: 84.0
Statistics: 94.0
Honours: 84.0
Longevity: 92.0

Athlete: Lee Smith

#	Athlete	Sport	Country	Career	GOAT Score
2087	Jenny Potter	Ice Hockey	🇺🇸 United States	1997–2011	76.8
2089	Jim Taylor	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1958–1967	76.8
2094	Bill Dudley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1942–1953	76.8
2096	Deborah Babashoff	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1980	76.8
2100	Frank Brimsek	Ice Hockey	🇺🇸 United States	1938–1950	76.8
2101	Johnny Unitas	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1973	76.7
2107	Katharine Berkoff	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2019–active	76.7
2111	Raymond Berry	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1955–1967	76.7
2113	William Clothier	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1900–1914	76.7
2114	John Doeg	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1926–1935	76.7
2117	Jack Aikins	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2019–active	76.7
2118	Rickey Henderson	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1979–2003	76.6
2121	Maureen Connolly	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1949–1954	76.6
2122	Christy Mathewson	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1900–1916	76.6
2125	Warren Spahn	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1942–1965	76.6
2126	Amar'e Stoudemire	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	2002–2016	76.6
2128	Budge Patty	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1961	76.6
2129	Pud Galvin	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1875–1892	76.6
2130	John Stallworth	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1974–1987	76.6
2131	Patrick Peterson	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2011–2023	76.6
2136	Marion Motley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1955	76.6
2137	Jerome Bettis	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1993–2005	76.6
2141	John Riggins	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1971–1985	76.6
2142	Bob Hayes	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1975	76.6
2143	Dante Lavelli	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1956	76.6
2144	Clarke Hinkle	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1932–1941	76.6
2145	Henry Jordan	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1957–1969	76.6
2154	Emmitt Smith	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1990–2004	76.5
2155	Frank Robinson	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1956–1976	76.5
2159	Bill Dickey	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1928–1946	76.5
2162	Frank Gore	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2005–2020	76.5
2164	Marques Johnson	Basketball	🇺🇸 United States	1977–1989	76.5
2166	Alyssa Anderson	Swimming	🇺🇸 United States	2009–2014	76.5
2167	Elroy Hirsch	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1946–1957	76.5
2175	Justin Verlander	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	2005–active	76.4
2177	Charlie Gehringer	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1924–1942	76.4
2178	Ken Houston	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1967–1980	76.4
2179	Ty Law	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1995–2009	76.4
2180	Antonio Brown	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2010–2021	76.4
2183	Barry Larkin	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1986–2004	76.4
2189	Tony Trabert	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1950–1963	76.4
2191	Dan Fouts	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1973–1987	76.4
2194	Fred Biletnikoff	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1965–1978	76.4
2198	Bob Falkenburg	Tennis	🇺🇸 United States	1944–1955	76.4
2199	Deion Sanders	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1989–2005	76.3
2201	Craig Biggio	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1988–2007	76.3
2202	Troy Polamalu	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	2003–2014	76.3
2205	Ken Riley	American Football	🇺🇸 United States	1969–1983	76.3
2206	Paul Molitor	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1978–1998	76.3
2207	Lee Smith	Baseball	🇺🇸 United States	1980–1997	76.3

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Michael Phelps vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Read the full methodology

Sport lists use the raw In-Sport GOAT Score. Cross-sport lists use the official competition-depth adjustment. No scores are recalculated for this page.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

How is this ranking calculated?

Five verified components are weighted consistently: dominance, peak, longevity, honours and statistics.

Who is included?

According to GOAT Rank's current data model, only verified athletes with sufficient career history, metrics, honours and independent sources are eligible. Rank and score are read live.

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